Scores of women have publicly accused Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault

Published Jan 31, 2018 at 3:34 AM

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Actor and director Rose McGowan raises her fist during her opening remarks to the audience at the Women's March / Women's Convention in Detroit, Michigan, on Oct. 27, 2017. A stream of actress including Rose McGowan, models and ex-employees have come out, many anonymously, to accuse Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual harassment and abuse dating as far back as the 1990s.

A lawyer for Harvey Weinstein on Tuesday called actress Rose McGowan's claims of rape against the former Hollywood producer "a bold lie."

Attorney Ben Brafman wrote in a statement that McGowan is trying to smear Weinstein to promote her new book "Brave."

McGowan details her allegations against Weinstein in the memoir released Tuesday. She said in the book that the producer forced himself on her during what began as a business meeting at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997.

Scores of women have publicly accused Weinstein of sexual harassment or assault.

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Brafman's statement says Weinstein and his attorneys "have refrained from publicly criticizing any of the women who have made allegations of sexual assault against Mr. Weinstein despite a wealth of evidence that would demonstrate the patent falsity of these claims.

"Watching the 'performance' by Rose McGowan as she looks to promote her new book however, has made it impossible to remain quiet," the statement said.

The statement released through crisis management firm Sitrick & Co. also included several photos of McGowan looking cordial with Weinstein at an industry event in 2005.

McGowan responded on Twitter late Tuesday by calling out Weinstein by name, which she had pointedly refrained from doing.

"It is you (who) did this to us," she wrote.

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A representative for Affleck did not immediately respond to a request for comment.